Health Sciences, B.S.: Public Health Concentration

Health Sciences, B.S. Program (120 units)

Program Description

Health Sciences is an interdisciplinary field that focuses on the application of physical, biological, and social sciences to understand and to improve health in human beings. It is an applied science that focuses on knowledge necessary to practice in both clinical and population health settings.

Our program helps students to understand health at the individual level, the community level and the population level. In addition to the biomedical model of health, we ask students to think critically and to explore health from a variety of perspectives and to understand the role that culture has in constructing health.

The program also emphasizes problem-based learning. Our goal is to help students develop strong critical thinking skills, team work, and strong problem-solving skills rooted in a population perspective.

Our program emphasizes the environmental factors that impact human health. The effects of climate change have an immediate and long-term effect on human health and the communities of California. Our program focuses on helping students develop the skills to face some of these health challenges.

The BS in Health Sciences without a concentration is designed to prepare students to enter directly into careers in health care or to enter into post-graduate professional programs such as medicine, physician assistant, occupational therapy, nursing, radiation technician, and other clinical fields.

The program also offers concentrations in Health Policy and in Public Health.

Career Opportunities

The health care field is the second largest industry in the United States and employs millions of workers. The demand for highly trained health care workers is high.

There are a number of career opportunities working in health sciences. There is a high demand for workers in clinical fields such as medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, laboratory technology, and other clinical fields.

In addition to clinical fields, there are opportunities in research, technology, administration, finance, pharmaceuticals, and environmental protection and sanitation. There are many career opportunities in fields such as public health and health policy as well.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students graduating with a BS in Health Sciences will be able to:

Use knowledge and skills to provide effective, necessary, and appropriate health services and public health interventions in diverse and multicultural communities.

Work effectively on a team in health and health care.

Act ethically and responsibly.

Use critical thinking, knowledge, and expertise to address complex challenges in health and health care.

Apply population perspectives in the health professions

Apply knowledge of the role of the environment and of climate change in human health in ways that improve population health and sustainability

Degree Requirements Unit-Outline

A baccalaureate of arts degree requires a total of 120 units:

The major requirements consists of 76-79 units;

General Education & Graduation Requirements consists of 57 units (up to 9 units may be double-counted - see your advisor to determine which, if any, GE/GR units can be double-counted for your program plan);

Public Health Concentration

Public health promotes and protects the health of people and the communities where they live, learn, work and play. (APHA). Public health works to track disease outbreaks, prevent injuries, and shed light on why some populations and communities are more likely to suffer from poor health than others. Public health professions work collaboratively and across disciplines to assure the conditions in which people can be healthy.

The Concentration in Public Health in the Bachelor of Science Degree Program aims to prepare qualified, diverse, and committed graduates qualified to understand and address complex public health challenges, locally, nationally, and globally. Upon successful completion of Concentration requirements, graduates will be able to:

Define public health and related roles and responsibilities of government, non-government agencies, and private organizations.

Evaluate the source and quality of health information, research, data, or public health interventions, which assess and/or address the well-being of a population, as they relate to individual and community health.

Analyze the magnitude of health concerns faced by vulnerable and at-risk communities accounting for the role of gender, race, ethnicity, social determinants, and other dynamic influences affecting population health.

Assess the role of community engagement in promoting population health and social justice by discussing public health interventions and the values and perspectives of diverse individuals, communities, and cultures and their influence on health behaviors and practices.

Other Undergraduate Degree Requirements

In addition to major requirements, every student must also complete the University’s baccalaureate requirements for graduation, which are described in the Requirements, Exams & Testing chapter of this catalog.